Detection of a leptin receptor variant

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a variant form of the receptor for the obese gene product. In particular, the invention relates to methods of detecting this receptor variant in cells and tissues of obese individuals. In addition, it relates to methods of inhibiting or down-regulating expression of this variant in cells to augment their responsiveness to weight regulation by leptin as well as methods of using compounds to directly activate signal transduction pathways associated with this ligand-receptor system.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/355,888, filed Dec. 14, 1994, which is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/306,231, filed Sep. 14, 1994, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

INTRODUCTION

The present invention relates to a variant form of the receptor for the obese gene product. In particular, the invention relates to methods of detecting this receptor variant in cells and tissues of obese individuals. In addition, it relates to methods of inhibiting or down-regulating expression of this variant in cells to augment their responsiveness to weight regulation by leptin as well as methods of using compounds to directly activate signal transduction pathways associated with this ligand-receptor system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Obesity is not only a nutritional disorder in Western societies, it is also a serious health concern because of its association with adult-onset diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease (Grundy, 1990, Disease-a-Month 36:645-696). While there was evidence to suggest that body weight was physiologically regulated, the molecular mechanism has remained elusive. However, animal studies have produced several mouse strains that contain single-gene mutations, resulting in an obese phenotype. One such recessive mutation is manifested in the ob/ob mice, and it is referred to as the obese (ob) mutation.

Zhang et al. (1994, Nature 372:425-432) describe the cloning and sequencing of the mouse ob gene and its human homolog. When an isolated gene fragment was used as a probe, it was shown to hybridize with RNA only in white adipose tissue by northern blot analysis, but no expression was detected in any other tissue. In addition, the coding sequence of the ob gene hybridized to all vertebrate genomic DNAs tested, indicating a high level of conservation of this molecule among vertebrates. The deduced amino acid sequences are 84% identical between human and mouse, and both molecules contain features of secreted proteins.

In an effort to understand the physiologic function of the ob gene, several independent research groups produced recombinant ob gene product in bacteria for in vivo testing (Pelleymounter et al., 1995, Science 269:540-543; Halaas et al., 1995, Science 269:543-546; Campfield et al., 1995, Science 269:546-549). When the Ob protein (also known as leptin) was injected into grossly obese mice, which possessed two mutant copies of the ob gene, the mice exhibited a reduced appetite and began to lose weight. In addition, these studies described a dual action of leptin in both reducing the animals' food intake and in increasing their energy expenditure. Similarly, when normal mice received leptin, they also ate less than the untreated controls. More importantly, Campfield et al. (1995, Science 269:546-549) injected leptin directly into lateral ventricle, and observed a reduction in the animals' food intake, suggesting that leptin acts on central neuronal networks to regulate feeding behavior and energy balance. Thus, this result provides evidence that the leptin receptor (also known as OB-R) is expressed by cells in the brain.

Recently, a leptin fusion protein was generated and used to screen for OB-R in a cDNA expression library prepared from mouse choroid plexus, a tissue that lines brain cavities termed ventricles (Tartalia, 1995, Cell 83:1263-1271). This approach led to the cloning of one form of the OB-R coding sequence, which reveals a single membrane-spanning receptor, sharing structural similarities with several Class I cytokine receptors, such as the gp130 signal-transducing component of the interleukin-6 receptor (Taga et al., 1989, Cell 58:573-581), the granulocyte-colony stimulating factor receptor (Fukunaga et al., 1990, Cell 61:341-350), and the leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (Gearing et al., 1991, EMBO J. 10:2839-2848). Northern blot analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) demonstrate that OB-R mRNA is expressed in several tissues, including lung, kidney, total brain, choroid plexus and hypothalamus.

The reported mouse OB-R protein contains a relatively short intracellular cytoplasmic domain as compared with other Class I cytokine receptors. Subsequently, when cDNA encoding its human homolog was isolated from a human infant brain library, the predicted human protein sequence contains a much longer intracellular domain. In view of this finding, it was speculated that different forms of the receptor might exist (Barinaga, 1996, Science 271:29). However, prior to the present invention, there was no report on the identification of any variant forms of the OB-R in humans or how such molecules, if they exist, would relate to obesity.

Additionally, several studies have shown that ob gene expression is actually increased in obese humans (Considine et al., 1995, J. Clin. Invest. 95:2986-2988; Lonnquist et al., 1995, Nature Med. 1:950; Hamilton et al., 1995, Nature Med. 1:953). Moreover, the mutations in the mouse Ob gene were not detected in human mRNA. Therefore, taken collectively, these studies imply that decreased leptin levels are not the primary cause of obesity, and argue for the presence of a less responsive receptor in obese individuals. There remains a need to isolate such an OB-R variant for the design of therapeutics to augment weight regulation by leptin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a variant form of the human OB-R. In particular, it relates to the detection of this receptor variant in cells of obese individuals, and methods for treating obesity by targeting this variant.

The invention is based, in part, upon the Applicants' discovery of human cDNA clones encoding a variant form of the OB-R. This receptor differs structurally from a reported OB-R with only three amino acid substitutions in the extracellular domain, but extensive diversity is observed in their intracellular cytoplasmic domains at the 3' end. The cytoplasmic domain of the variant of the invention is both shorter and distinct in nucleotide sequence from the corresponding domain of the published form of OB-R. In addition, its cytoplasmic domain is highly homologous to a human retrotransposon sequence. Therefore, a wide variety of uses are encompassed by the present invention, including but not limited to, the detection of the receptor variant in cells of obese individuals, methods to inhibit and/or down-regulate the expression of this receptor variant, gene therapy to replace the receptor variant in homozygous individuals, and direct activation of downstream signal transduction pathways in cells expressing the receptor variant for weight regulation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1G Nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:1) and deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NOS:2, 3 and 4) of the human OB-R variant. The amino acid sequence diverges from the human OB-R reported by Tartaglia et al. (1995, Cell 83:1263-1271) at nucleotide residue #349, #422, #764 and from residue #2770 and beyond.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The OB-R Variant

The present invention relates to nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of an OB-R variant in the Class I cytokine receptor family. In a specific embodiment by way of example in Section 6, infra, this variant was cloned and characterized. Amino acid sequence comparison of this OB-R variant with a published human OB-R sequence (Tartaglia et al., 1995, Cell 83:1263-1271) reveals three amino acid differences in their extracellular domain and extensive diversity in their intracellular cytoplasmic domains. More specifically, FIGS. 1A-1G shows that in the variant, nucleotide residues #349-351 encode alanine, nucleotide residues #421-423 encode arginine and nucleotide residues #763-765 encode arginine. Additionally, the variant diverges both in length and sequence composition from the published human OB-R sequence from nucleotide residue #2770 and beyond. In this regard, the intracellular domain of the variant is highly homologous to a retrotransposon sequence (Ono et al., 1987, Nucl. Acid. Res. 15:8725-8737).

In order to clone additional variant forms of the molecule, labeled DNA probes made from nucleic acid fragments corresponding to any portion of the cDNA disclosed herein may be used to screen a cDNA library prepared from human fetal liver, human lung, human kidney, human choroid plexus and human hypothalamus. More specifically, oligonucleotides corresponding to either the 5' or 3' terminus of the cDNA sequence may be used to obtain longer nucleotide sequences. Briefly, the library may be plated out to yield a maximum of 30,000 pfu for each 150 mm plate. Approximately 40 plates may be screened. The plates are incubated at 37° C. until the plaques reach a diameter of 0.25 mm or are just beginning to make contact with one another (3-8 hours). Nylon filters are placed onto the soft top agarose and after 60 seconds, the filters are peeled off and floated on a DNA denaturing solution consisting of 0.4N sodium hydroxide. The filters are then immersed in neutralizing solution consisting of 1M Tris HCL, pH 7.5, before being allowed to air dry. The filters are prehybridized in casein hybridization buffer containing 10% dextran sulfate, 0.5M NaCl, 50 mM Tris HCL, pH 7.5, 0.1% sodium pyrosphosphate, 1% casein, 1% SDS, and denatured salmon sperm DNA at 0.5 mg/ml for 6 hours at 60° C. The radiolabelled probe is then denatured by heating to 95° C. for 2 minutes and then added to the prehybridization solution containing the filters. The filters are hybridized at 60° C. for 16 hours. The filters are then washed in 1X wash mix (10X wash mix contains 3M NaCl, 0.6M Tris base, and 0.02M EDTA) twice for 5 minutes each at room temperature, then in 1X wash mix containing 1% SDS at 60° C. for 30 minutes, and finally in 0.3X wash mix containing 0.1% SDS at 60° C. for 30 minutes. The filters are then air dried and exposed to x-ray film for autoradiography. After developing, the film is aligned with the filters to select a positive plaque. If a single, isolated positive plaque cannot be obtained, the agar plug containing the plaques will be removed and placed in lambda dilution buffer containing 0.1M NaCl, 0.01M magnesium sulfate, 0.035M Tris HCl, pH 7.5, 0.01% gelatin. The phage may then be replated and rescreened to obtain single, well isolated positive plaques. Positive plaques may be isolated and the cDNA clones sequenced using primers based on the known cDNA sequence. This step may be repeated until a full length cDNA is obtained.

One method for identifying all 3' isoforms is to PCR amplify the 3' ends of the variant cDNA from a variety of tissues including but not limiting to, choroid plexus, hypothalamus, fetal liver, bone marrow, ovary, or prostate. To obtain the 3' end of the cDNA, an oligo-dT primer is used to synthesize the cDNA first strand. OB-R specific primers from the conserved region of the gene (e.g. up stream of nucleotide 2770) and oligo-dT are then used to amplify the 3' end. The PCR fragments are cloned and sequenced by standard techniques. Once obtained, these sequences may be translated into amino acid sequence and examined for certain landmarks such as continuous open reading frame, regulatory regions that associate with tyrosine kinase activation, and finally overall structural similarity to known OB-R variants.

Expression of the OB-R Variant

In accordance with the invention, the OB-R variant polynucleotide sequence which encodes a protein, peptide fragments, fusion proteins or functional equivalents thereof, may be used to generate recombinant DNA molecules that direct the expression of the protein, peptide fragments, fusion proteins or a functional equivalent thereof, in appropriate host cells. Such polynucleotide sequences, as well as other polynucleotides which selectively hybridize to at least a part of such polynucleotides or their complements, may also be used in nucleic acid hybridization assays, Southern and Northern blot analyses, etc.

Due to the inherent degeneracy of the genetic code, other DNA sequences which encode substantially the same or a functionally equivalent amino acid sequence, may be used in the practice of the invention for the expression of the OB-R variant. Such DNA sequences include those which are capable of hybridizing to the OB-R variant sequence under stringent conditions, particularly at its 3' end. The phrase "stringent conditions" as used herein refers to those hybridizing conditions that (1) employ low ionic strength and high temperature for washing, for example, 0.015M NaCl/0.0015M sodium citrate/0.1% SDS at 50° C.; (2) employ during hybridization a denaturing agent such as formamide, for example, 50% (vol/vol) formamide with 0.1% bovine serum albumin/0.1% Ficoll/0.1% polyvinylpyrrolidone/50 mM sodium phosphate buffer at pH 6.5 with 750 mM NaCl, 75 mM sodium citrate at 42° C.; or (3) employ 50% formamide, 5×SSC (0.75M NaCl, 0.075M Sodium pyrophosphate, 5×Denhardt's solution, sonicated salmon sperm DNA (50 g/ml), 0.1% SDS, and 10% dextran sulfate at 42° C., with washes at 42° C. in 0.2×SSC and 0.1% SDS.

Altered DNA sequences which may be used in accordance with the invention include deletions, additions or substitutions of different nucleotide residues resulting in a sequence that encodes the same or a functionally equivalent gene product. The gene product itself may contain deletions, additions or substitutions of amino acid residues within the OB-R variant sequence, which result in a silent change thus producing a functionally equivalent protein. Such amino acid substitutions may be made on the basis of similarity in polarity, charge, solubility, hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, and/or the amphipathic nature of the residues involved. For example, negatively charged amino acids include aspartic acid and glutamic acid; positively charged amino acids include lysine, histidine and arginine; amino acids with uncharged polar head groups having similar hydrophilicity values include the following: glycine, asparagine, glutamine, serine, threonine, tyrosine; and amino acids with nonpolar head groups include alanine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, proline, methionine, tryptophan.

The DNA sequence of the invention may be engineered in order to alter the OB-R variant coding sequence for a variety of ends, including but not limited to, alterations which modify processing and expression of the gene product. For example, mutations may be introduced using techniques which are well known in the art, e.g., site-directed mutagenesis, to insert new restriction sites, to alter glycosylation patterns, phosphorylation, etc. In addition, the intracellular domain may also be altered and replaced by a different domain, such as the OB-R intracellular domain by Tartaglia et al.

In another embodiment of the invention, the OB-R variant sequence may be ligated to a heterologous sequence to encode a fusion protein. For example, for screening of peptide libraries for inhibitors or stimulators of receptor activity, it may be useful to encode a chimeric protein expressing a heterologous epitope that is recognized by a commercially available antibody. A fusion protein may also be engineered to contain a cleavage site located between the OB-R variant sequence and the heterologous protein sequence, so that the variant may be cleaved away from the heterologous moiety.

In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the coding sequence of the OB-R variant could be synthesized in whole or in part, using chemical methods well known in the art. (See, for example, Caruthers et al., 1980, Nuc. Acids Res. Symp. Ser. 7:215-233; Crea and Horn, 180, Nuc. Acids Res. 9(10):2331; Matteucci and Caruthers, 1980, Tetrahedron Letters 21:719; and Chow and Kempe, 1981, Nuc. Acids Res. 9(12):2807-2817). Alternatively, the protein itself could be produced using chemical methods to synthesize OB-R variant amino acid sequence in whole or in part. For example, peptides can be synthesized by solid phase techniques, cleaved from the resin, and purified by preparative high performance liquid chromatography. (e.g., see Creighton, 1983, Proteins Structures And Molecular Principles, W. H. Freeman and Co., N.Y. pp. 50-60). The composition of the synthetic peptides may be confirmed by amino acid analysis or sequencing (e.g., the Edman degradation procedure; see Creighton, 1983, Proteins, Structures and Molecular Principles, W. H. Freeman and Co., N.Y., pp. 34-49).

In order to express the OB-R variant in host cells, the nucleotide sequence coding for the variant, or a functional equivalent, is inserted into an appropriate expression vector, i.e., a vector which contains the necessary elements for the transcription and translation of the inserted coding sequence. The expressed gene products as well as host cells or cell lines transfected or transformed with recombinant OB-R variant expression vectors can be used for a variety of purposes. For example, host cells expressing the OB-R variant may be used to verify the ability of this molecule to bind leptin in a binding assay with radiolabeled, enzyme-conjugated or fluorescent dye-conjugated leptin. At the same time, the ability of the molecule to transduce an activation signal in host cells upon binding to leptin may be tested by assaying proliferation or phosphorylation pattern of kinases in the cells. In addition, genetically-engineered host cells can be used to screen for and select agonist and antagonist compounds, including any inhibitors that would interfere with binding of leptin to the extracellular domain of the OB-R variant. In that connection, such host cells may be used to screen for and select small molecules that can supplement the incomplete signal transduced by the OB-R variant following leptin binding. Other uses, include, but are not limited to generating antibodies (i.e., monoclonal or polyclonal) that competitively inhibit activity of an OB-R variant, neutralize its activity, or even enhances it activity. Antibodies may be used in detecting and quantifying expression of OB-R levels in cells and tissues.

Uses of the OB-R Variant Polynucleotide

The OB-R variant polynucleotide may be used for diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes. For diagnostic purposes, the OB-R variant polynucleotide may be used to detect gene expression or aberrant gene expression in obese individuals as well as in normal individuals to identify predisposition for obesity. Included in the scope of the invention are oligonucleotide sequences, that include antisense RNA and DNA molecules, ribozymes and triplex DNA, that function to inhibit translation of OB-R variant.

Diagnostic Uses of OB-R Variant Polynucleotide

The OB-R variant polynucleotide may have a number of uses for the diagnosis of the possible causes underlying obesity, resulting from expression of the receptor variant. For example, the OB-R variant cytoplasmic domain DNA sequence may be used in hybridization assays of biopsies or autopsies to diagnose OB-R variant expression; e.g., Southern or Northern analysis, including in situ hybridization assays as well as PCR. Such techniques are well known in the art, and are in fact the basis of many commercially available diagnostic kits. For PCR detection, primers may be designed from a conserved region of the coding sequence and within the 3' region of OB-R variant. The tissues suitable for such analysis include but are not limited to, hypothalamus, choroid plexus, adipose tissues, lung, prostate, ovary, small intestine, bone marrow and peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Therapeutic Uses of the OB-R Variant Polynucleotide

The OB-R variant polynucleotide may be useful in the treatment of various abnormal obese conditions. By introducing gene sequences into cells, gene therapy can be used to treat conditions in which the cells do not respond to leptin normally due to expression of the OB-R variant. In some instances, the polynucleotide encoding a functional OB-R is intended to replace or act in the place of the functionally deficient OB-R variant gene. Alternatively, abnormal conditions characterized by expression of two copies of the OB-R variant can be treated using the gene therapy techniques described below.

Non-responsiveness to normal levels of leptin is an important cause of obesity. This may result from a functionally defective receptor that does not transduce competent signals upon ligand binding. Recombinant gene therapy vectors, such as viral vectors, may be engineered to express signalling competent forms of OB-R which may be used to augment the non-responsiveness of the naturally occurring OB-R variant. A signalling competent form may be, for example, a protein with the same extracellular domain and transmembrane region, but containing all or part of its normal signal transduction domain, such as that described by Tartaglia et al. (1995, Cell 83:1263-1271). Thus recombinant gene therapy vectors may be used therapeutically for treatment of obesity resulting from expression or activity of the OB-R variant. Accordingly, the invention provides a method of augmenting signal transduction by an endogenous OB-R variant in a cell comprising delivering a DNA molecule encoding a signalling competent form of the OB-R to the cell so that the signalling competent protein is produced in the cell and competes with the endogenous defective OB-R variant for access to molecules in the signalling pathway which does not activate or are not activated by the endogenous natural defective receptor. Additionally, since dimerization of a functional receptor with a defective variant may occur in cells of heterozygous individuals, small molecules may be used to inhibit such pairing, thereby increasing the number of functional dimeric receptors for proper signalling in response to leptin.

In contrast, overexpression of either leptin or a competent OB-R may result in a clinical anorexic-like syndrome due to a loss of appetite or hypermetabolic activity. In such cases, the OB-R variant of the invention may be introduced into cells with functional receptors to cause a decrease in the number of functional receptors or to compete with such receptors for leptin binding.

Expression vectors derived from viruses such as retroviruses, vaccinia virus, adeno-associated virus, herpes viruses, or bovine papilloma virus, may be used for delivery of recombinant functional OB-R into the targeted cell population. Methods which are well known to those skilled in the art can be used to construct recombinant viral vectors containing an OB-R polynucleotide sequence. See, for example, the techniques described in Sambrook et al., 1989, Molecular Cloning A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, N.Y. and Ausubel et al., 1989, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Greene Publishing Associates and Wiley Interscience, N.Y. Alternatively, recombinant OB-R molecules can be reconstituted into liposomes for delivery to target cells.

Oligonucleotide sequences including anti-sense RNA and DNA molecules and ribozymes that function to inhibit the translation of the OB-R variant mRNA are within the scope of the invention. Anti-sense RNA and DNA molecules act to directly block the translation of mRNA by binding to targeted mRNA and preventing protein translation. In regard to antisense DNA, oligodeoxyribonucleotides derived from the OB-R variant nucleotide sequence at nucleotide #2771 and beyond, are preferred.

Ribozymes are enzymatic RNA molecules capable of catalyzing the specific cleavage of RNA. The mechanism of ribozyme action involves sequence specific hybridization of the ribozyme molecule to complementary target RNA, followed by endonucleolytic cleavage. Within the scope of the invention are engineered hammerhead motif ribozyme molecules that specifically and efficiently catalyze endonucleolytic cleavage of OB-R variant RNA sequences.

Specific ribozyme cleavage sites within any potential RNA target are initially identified by scanning the target molecule for ribozyme cleavage sites which include the following sequences, GUA, GUU and GUC. Once identified, short RNA sequences of between 15 and 20 ribonucleotides corresponding to the region of the target gene containing the cleavage site may be evaluated for predicted structural features such as secondary structure that may render the oligonucleotide sequence unsuitable. The suitability of candidate targets may also be evaluated by testing their accessibility to hybridization with complementary oligonucleotides, using ribonuclease protection assays.

Oligodeoxyribonucleotides can form sequence-specific triple helices by hydrogen bonding to specific complementary sequences in duplexed DNA. Interest in triple helices has focused on the potential biological and therapeutic applications of these structures. Formation of specific triple helices may selectively inhibit the replication and/or gene expression of targeted genes by prohibiting the specific binding of functional trans-acting factors.

Oligonucleotides to be used in triplex helix formation should be single stranded and composed of deoxynucleotides. The base composition of these oligonucleotides must be designed to promote triple helix formation via Hoogsteen base pairing rules, which generally require sizeable stretches of either purines or pyrimidines to be present on one strand of a duplex. Oligonucleotide sequences may be pyrimidine-based, which will result in TAT and CGC triplets across the three associated strands of the resulting triple helix. The pyrimidine-rich oligonucleotides provide base complementarity to a purine-rich region of a single strand of the duplex in a parallel orientation to that strand. In addition, oligonucleotides may be chosen that are purine-rich, for example, containing a stretch of G residues. These oligonucleotides will form a triple helix with a DNA duplex that is rich in GC pairs, in which the majority of the purine residues are located on a single strand of the targeted duplex, resulting in GGC triplets across the three strands in the triplex. Alternatively, the potential sequences that can be targeted for triple helix formation may be increased by creating a so called "switchback" oligonucleotide. Switchback oligonucleotides are synthesized in an alternating 5'-3', 3'-5' manner, such that they base pair with first one strand of a duplex and then the other, eliminating the necessity for a sizeable stretch of either purines or pyrimidines to be present on one strand of a duplex.

Both anti-sense RNA and DNA molecules and ribozymes of the invention may be prepared by any method known in the art for the synthesis of RNA molecules. These include techniques for chemically synthesizing oligodeoxyribonucleotides well known in the art such as solid phase phosphoramidite chemical synthesis. Alternatively, RNA molecules may be generated by in vitro and in vivo transcription of DNA sequences encoding the antisense RNA molecule. Such DNA sequences may be incorporated into a wide variety of vectors which incorporate suitable RNA polymerase promoters such as the T7 or SP6 polymerase promoters. Alternatively, antisense cDNA constructs that synthesize antisense RNA constitutively or inducibly, depending on the promoter used, can be introduced stably into cell lines.

Various modifications to the DNA molecules may be introduced as a means of increasing intracellular stability and half-life. Possible modifications include but are not limited to the addition of flanking sequences of ribo- or deoxy- nucleotides to the 5' and/or 3' ends of the molecule or the use of phosphorothioate or 2' O-methyl rather than phosphodiesterase linkages within the oligodeoxyribonucleotide backbone.

Activation of Tyrosine Kinase Pathways in Obesity

Many known class I cytokine receptors initiate cell signaling via Janus kinases (JAKs) (Ihle, 1995, Nature 377:591-594; Heldin, 1995, Cell 80:213-223; Kishimoto et al, 1994, Cell 76:253-62; Ziemiecki et al, 1994, Trends Cell. Biol. 4:207-212). JAK1-3 have been shown to bind to conserved sequences termed box1 and box2 (Fukunaga et al., 1991, EMBO J. 10:2855-65; Murakami, 1991, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:11349-53). Ligand binding induces a homo- or hetero-dimerization of receptor chains which activates, by phosphorylation, the JAKs. The activated JAKs, in turn, phosphorylate members of the STAT family (Heldin, 1995, Cell 80:213-223; Kishimoto et al., Blood 86:1243-54; Darnell et al., 1994, Science 264:1415-21; Zhong et al, 1994, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:4806-10; Hou et al., 1994, Science 265:1701-6). These phosphorylated STATs ultimately translocate to the nucleus, form transcription complexes, and regulate gene expression. Both box1 and box2 are required for complete signaling in certain systems. (Fukunaga et al., 1991, EMBO J. 10:2855-65; Murakami, 1991, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:11349-53). The OB-R variant disclosed herein has a typical box1 (from nucleotide #2707-2730) that contains the critical xWxxxPxP amino acid sequence, but it does not contain an obvious box2 nor further downstream sequences that are important for normal receptor activation. Therefore, it is possible to use compounds that activate JAKs to directly activate these pathways for weight regulation without triggering the OB-R.

EXAMPLE Molecular Cloning of an OB-R Variant

A number of cDNA clones were isolated from a human fetal liver cDNA library (Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.), and the DNA sequences of several of these clones were determined. These clones (designated as Hu-B1.219 #4, #33, #34, #1, #36, #55, #60) contained overlapping sequences, which were then compiled into a contiguous nucleotide sequence (FIG. 1A-1G). When the deduced amino acid sequence of one such sequence was compared with the sequence of a recently published human OB-R, they were shown to be nearly identical in the extracellular domains with the exception of three amino acids, whereas there existed extensive diversity in their intracellular cytoplasmic domains at the 3' end. The predicted protein sequence contains two FN III domains, each containing a "WS box", which are characteristic of genes of the Class I cytokine receptor family. Therefore, the cDNA disclosed herein encodes an OB-R variant.

When various human tissue RNA were probed with a fragment of this OB-R variant by Northern blot analysis, expression of this molecule was detected in heart, placenta, lung, liver, muscle, pancreas, prostate, ovary, small intestine and brain.

Based on the sequence presented in FIG. 1A-1G, the translation initiation site appears at position #97. The sequence encodes an open reading frame up to and including nucleotide #2970. It is believed that the sequence between nucleotides #2629 and #2682 encodes a transmembrane domain. The complete sequence encodes a protein of 958 amino acids.

The sequence of the OB-R variant is identical to the sequence of human OB-R reported by Tartaglia (1995, Cell 83:1263-1271) in the transmembrane region and a portion of the intracellular domain up to and including nucleotide #2769, then they diverge at nucleotide #2770 and beyond. In addition, the product of this cDNA is substantially shorter in its intracellular domain than the published human OB-R. These two forms of OB-R may derive from a common precursor mRNA by an alternative splicing mechanism. The sequence in this region is consistent with well known splice junctions. It is noteworthy that the DNA sequence of the OB-R variant from nucleotide #2768 to the end is 98% identical to a human retrotransposon sequence that is thought to be derived from a human endogenous retroviral DNA sequence (Singer, 1982, Cell 28:433; Weiner et al., 1986, Ann. Rev. Biochem. 55:631; Lower et al., 1993, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:4480; Ono et al., 1987, Nucl. Acid. Res. 15:8725-8735).

Deposit of Microorganisms

The following organisms were deposited with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md. 20852.

    ______________________________________     Strain Designation                     Accession No.     ______________________________________     HuB1.219, #1    75885     HuB1.219, #4    75886     HuB1.219, #33   75888     HuB1.219, #34   75889     HuB1.219, #36   75890     HuB1.219, #55   75971     HuB1.219, #60   75973     ______________________________________

The present invention is not to be limited in scope by the exemplified embodiments, which are intended as illustrations of individual aspects of the invention. Indeed, various modifications for the invention in addition to those shown and described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

All publications cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

    __________________________________________________________________________     SEQUENCE LISTING     (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:     (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 4     (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:     (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     (A) LENGTH: 2991 base pairs     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: single     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA     (ix) FEATURE:     (A) NAME/KEY: CDS     (B) LOCATION: 1..2991     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:     GCGCGCGCGACGCAGGTGCCCGAGCCCCGGCCCGCGCCCATCTCTGCC48     AlaArgAlaThrGlnValProGluProArgProAlaProIleSerAla     151015     TTCGGTCGAGTTGGACCCCCGGATCAAGGTGTACTTCTCTGAAGTAAG96     PheGlyArgValGlyProProAspGlnGlyValLeuLeu*SerLys     202530     ATGATTTGTCAAAAATTCTGTGTGGTTTTGTTACATTGGGAATTTATT144     MetIleCysGlnLysPheCysValValLeuLeuHisTrpGluPheIle     354045     TATGTGATAACTGCGTTTAACTTGTCATATCCAATTACTCCTTGGAGA192     TyrValIleThrAlaPheAsnLeuSerTyrProIleThrProTrpArg     505560     TTTAAGTTGTCTTGCATGCCACCAAATTCAACCTATGACTACTTCCTT240     PheLysLeuSerCysMetProProAsnSerThrTyrAspTyrPheLeu     65707580     TTGCCTGCTGGACTCTCAAAGAATACTTCAAATTCGAATGGACATTAT288     LeuProAlaGlyLeuSerLysAsnThrSerAsnSerAsnGlyHisTyr     859095     GAGACAGCTGTTGAACCTAAGTTTAATTCAAGTGGTACTCACTTTTCT336     GluThrAlaValGluProLysPheAsnSerSerGlyThrHisPheSer     100105110     AACTTATCCAAAGCAACTTTCCACTGTTGCTTTCGGAGTGAGCAAGAT384     AsnLeuSerLysAlaThrPheHisCysCysPheArgSerGluGlnAsp     115120125     AGAAACTGCTCCTTATGTGCAGACAACATTGAAGGAAGGACATTTGTT432     ArgAsnCysSerLeuCysAlaAspAsnIleGluGlyArgThrPheVal     130135140     TCAACAGTAAATTCTTTAGTTTTTCAACAAATAGATGCAAACTGGAAC480     SerThrValAsnSerLeuValPheGlnGlnIleAspAlaAsnTrpAsn     145150155160     ATACAGTGCTGGCTAAAAGGAGACTTAAAATTATTCATCTGTTATGTG528     IleGlnCysTrpLeuLysGlyAspLeuLysLeuPheIleCysTyrVal     165170175     GAGTCATTATTTAAGAATCTATTCAGGAATTATAACTATAAGGTCCAT576     GluSerLeuPheLysAsnLeuPheArgAsnTyrAsnTyrLysValHis     180185190     CTTTTATATGTTCTGCCTGAAGTGTTAGAAGATTCACCTCTGGTTCCC624     LeuLeuTyrValLeuProGluValLeuGluAspSerProLeuValPro     195200205     CAAAAAGGCAGTTTTCAGATGGTTCACTGCAATTGCAGTGTTCATGAA672     GlnLysGlySerPheGlnMetValHisCysAsnCysSerValHisGlu     210215220     TGTTGTGAATGTCTTGTGCCTGTGCCAACAGCCAAACTCAACGACACT720     CysCysGluCysLeuValProValProThrAlaLysLeuAsnAspThr     225230235240     CTCCTTATGTGTTTGAAAATCACATCTGGTGGAGTAATTTTCCGGTCA768     LeuLeuMetCysLeuLysIleThrSerGlyGlyValIlePheArgSer     245250255     CCTCTAATGTCAGTTCAGCCCATAAATATGGTGAAGCCTGATCCACCA816     ProLeuMetSerValGlnProIleAsnMetValLysProAspProPro     260265270     TTAGGTTTGCATATGGAAATCACAGATGATGGTAATTTAAAGATTTCT864     LeuGlyLeuHisMetGluIleThrAspAspGlyAsnLeuLysIleSer     275280285     TGGTCCAGCCCACCATTGGTACCATTTCCACTTCAATATCAAGTGAAA912     TrpSerSerProProLeuValProPheProLeuGlnTyrGlnValLys     290295300     TATTCAGAGAATTCTACAACAGTTATCAGAGAAGCTGACAAGATTGTC960     TyrSerGluAsnSerThrThrValIleArgGluAlaAspLysIleVal     305310315320     TCAGCTACATCCCTGCTAGTAGACAGTATACTTCCTGGGTCTTCGTAT1008     SerAlaThrSerLeuLeuValAspSerIleLeuProGlySerSerTyr     325330335     GAGGTTCAGGTGAGGGGCAAGAGACTGGATGGCCCAGGAATCTGGAGT1056     GluValGlnValArgGlyLysArgLeuAspGlyProGlyIleTrpSer     340345350     GACTGGAGTACTCCTCGTGTCTTTACCACACAAGATGTCATATACTTT1104     AspTrpSerThrProArgValPheThrThrGlnAspValIleTyrPhe     355360365     CCACCTAAAATTCTGACAAGTGTTGGGTCTAATGTTTCTTTTCACTGC1152     ProProLysIleLeuThrSerValGlySerAsnValSerPheHisCys     370375380     ATCTATAAGAAGGAAAACAAGATTGTTCCCTCAAAAGAGATTGTTTGG1200     IleTyrLysLysGluAsnLysIleValProSerLysGluIleValTrp     385390395400     TGGATGAATTTAGCTGAGAAAATTCCTCAAAGCCAGTATGATGTTGTG1248     TrpMetAsnLeuAlaGluLysIleProGlnSerGlnTyrAspValVal     405410415     AGTGATCATGTTAGCAAAGTTACTTTTTTCAATCTGAATGAAACCAAA1296     SerAspHisValSerLysValThrPhePheAsnLeuAsnGluThrLys     420425430     CCTCGAGGAAAGTTTACCTATGATGCAGTGTACTGCTGCAATGAACAT1344     ProArgGlyLysPheThrTyrAspAlaValTyrCysCysAsnGluHis     435440445     GAATGCCATCATCGCTATGCTGAATTATATGTGATTGATGTCAATATC1392     GluCysHisHisArgTyrAlaGluLeuTyrValIleAspValAsnIle     450455460     AATATCTCATGTGAAACTGATGGGTACTTAACTAAAATGACTTGCAGA1440     AsnIleSerCysGluThrAspGlyTyrLeuThrLysMetThrCysArg     465470475480     TGGTCAACCAGTACAATCCAGTCACTTGCGGAAAGCACTTTGCAATTG1488     TrpSerThrSerThrIleGlnSerLeuAlaGluSerThrLeuGlnLeu     485490495     AGGTATCATAGGAGCAGCCTTTACTGTTCTGATATTCCATCTATTCAT1536     ArgTyrHisArgSerSerLeuTyrCysSerAspIleProSerIleHis     500505510     CCCATATCTGAGCCCAAAGATTGCTATTTGCAGAGTGATGGTTTTTAT1584     ProIleSerGluProLysAspCysTyrLeuGlnSerAspGlyPheTyr     515520525     GAATGCATTTTCCAGCCAATCTTCCTATTATCTGGCTACACAATGTGG1632     GluCysIlePheGlnProIlePheLeuLeuSerGlyTyrThrMetTrp     530535540     ATTAGGATCAATCACTCTCTAGGTTCACTTGACTCTCCACCAACATGT1680     IleArgIleAsnHisSerLeuGlySerLeuAspSerProProThrCys     545550555560     GTCCTTCCTGATTCTGTGGTGAAGCCACTGCCTCCATCCAGTGTGAAA1728     ValLeuProAspSerValValLysProLeuProProSerSerValLys     565570575     GCAGAAATTACTATAAACATTGGATTATTGAAAATATCTTGGGAAAAG1776     AlaGluIleThrIleAsnIleGlyLeuLeuLysIleSerTrpGluLys     580585590     CCAGTCTTTCCAGAGAATAACCTTCAATTCCAGATTCGCTATGGTTTA1824     ProValPheProGluAsnAsnLeuGlnPheGlnIleArgTyrGlyLeu     595600605     AGTGGAAAAGAAGTACAATGGAAGATGTATGAGGTTTATGATGCAAAA1872     SerGlyLysGluValGlnTrpLysMetTyrGluValTyrAspAlaLys     610615620     TCAAAATCTGTCAGTCTCCCAGTTCCAGACTTGTGTGCAGTCTATGCT1920     SerLysSerValSerLeuProValProAspLeuCysAlaValTyrAla     625630635640     GTTCAGGTGCGCTGTAAGAGGCTAGATGGACTGGGATATTGGAGTAAT1968     ValGlnValArgCysLysArgLeuAspGlyLeuGlyTyrTrpSerAsn     645650655     TGGAGCAATCCAGCCTACACAGTTGTCATGGATATAAAAGTTCCTATG2016     TrpSerAsnProAlaTyrThrValValMetAspIleLysValProMet     660665670     AGAGGACCTGAATTTTGGAGAATAATTAATGGAGATACTATGAAAAAG2064     ArgGlyProGluPheTrpArgIleIleAsnGlyAspThrMetLysLys     675680685     GAGAAAAATGTCACTTTACTTTGGAAGCCCCTGATGAAAAATGACTCA2112     GluLysAsnValThrLeuLeuTrpLysProLeuMetLysAsnAspSer     690695700     TTGTGCAGTGTTCAGAGATATGTGATAAACCATCATACTTCCTGCAAT2160     LeuCysSerValGlnArgTyrValIleAsnHisHisThrSerCysAsn     705710715720     GGAACATGGTCAGAAGATGTGGGAAATCACACGAAATTCACTTTCCTG2208     GlyThrTrpSerGluAspValGlyAsnHisThrLysPheThrPheLeu     725730735     TGGACAGAGCAAGCACATACTGTTACGGTTCTGGCCATCAATTCAATT2256     TrpThrGluGlnAlaHisThrValThrValLeuAlaIleAsnSerIle     740745750     GGTGCTTCTGTTGCAAATTTTAATTTAACCTTTTCATGGCCTATGAGC2304     GlyAlaSerValAlaAsnPheAsnLeuThrPheSerTrpProMetSer     755760765     AAAGTAAATATCGTGCAGTCACTCAGTGCTTATCCTTTAAACAGCAGT2352     LysValAsnIleValGlnSerLeuSerAlaTyrProLeuAsnSerSer     770775780     TGTGTGATTGTTTCCTGGATACTATCACCCAGTGATTACAAGCTAATG2400     CysValIleValSerTrpIleLeuSerProSerAspTyrLysLeuMet     785790795800     TATTTTATTATTGAGTGGAAAAATCTTAATGAAGATGGTGAAATAAAA2448     TyrPheIleIleGluTrpLysAsnLeuAsnGluAspGlyGluIleLys     805810815     TGGCTTAGAATCTCTTCATCTGTTAAGAAGTATTATATCCATGATCAT2496     TrpLeuArgIleSerSerSerValLysLysTyrTyrIleHisAspHis     820825830     TTTATCCCCATTGAGAAGTACCAGTTCAGTCTTTACCCAATATTTATG2544     PheIleProIleGluLysTyrGlnPheSerLeuTyrProIlePheMet     835840845     GAAGGAGTGGGAAAACCAAAGATAATTAATAGTTTCACTCAAGATGAT2592     GluGlyValGlyLysProLysIleIleAsnSerPheThrGlnAspAsp     850855860     ATTGAAAAACACCAGAGTGATGCAGGTTTATATGTAATTGTGCCAGTA2640     IleGluLysHisGlnSerAspAlaGlyLeuTyrValIleValProVal     865870875880     ATTATTTCCTCTTCCATCTTATTGCTTGGAACATTATTAATATCACAC2688     IleIleSerSerSerIleLeuLeuLeuGlyThrLeuLeuIleSerHis     885890895     CAAAGAATGAAAAAGCTATTTTGGGAAGATGTTCCGAACCCCAAGAAT2736     GlnArgMetLysLysLeuPheTrpGluAspValProAsnProLysAsn     900905910     TGTTCCTGGGCACAAGGACTTAATTTTCAGAAGATGCTTGAAGGCAGC2784     CysSerTrpAlaGlnGlyLeuAsnPheGlnLysMetLeuGluGlySer     915920925     ATGTTCGTTAAGAGTCATCACCACTCCCTAATCTCAAGTACCCAGGGA2832     MetPheValLysSerHisHisHisSerLeuIleSerSerThrGlnGly     930935940     CACAAACACTGCGGAAGGCCACAGGGTCCTCTGCATAGGAAAACCAGA2880     HisLysHisCysGlyArgProGlnGlyProLeuHisArgLysThrArg     945950955960     GACCTTTGTTCACTTGTTTATCTGCTGACCCTCCCTCCACTATTGTCC2928     AspLeuCysSerLeuValTyrLeuLeuThrLeuProProLeuLeuSer     965970975     TATGACCCTGCCAAATCCCCCTCTGTGAGAAACACCCAAGAATGATCA2976     TyrAspProAlaLysSerProSerValArgAsnThrGlnGlu*Ser     980985990     ATAAAAAAAAAAAAA2991     IleLysLysLysLys     995     (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:     (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     (A) LENGTH: 29 amino acids     (B) TYPE: amino acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: single     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:     AlaArgAlaThrGlnValProGluProArgProAlaProIleSerAla     151015     PheGlyArgValGlyProProAspGlnGlyValLeuLeu     2025     (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3:     (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     (A) LENGTH: 960 amino acids     (B) TYPE: amino acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: single     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3:     SerLysMetIleCysGlnLysPheCysValValLeuLeuHisTrpGlu     151015     PheIleTyrValIleThrAlaPheAsnLeuSerTyrProIleThrPro     202530     TrpArgPheLysLeuSerCysMetProProAsnSerThrTyrAspTyr     354045     PheLeuLeuProAlaGlyLeuSerLysAsnThrSerAsnSerAsnGly     505560     HisTyrGluThrAlaValGluProLysPheAsnSerSerGlyThrHis     65707580     PheSerAsnLeuSerLysAlaThrPheHisCysCysPheArgSerGlu     859095     GlnAspArgAsnCysSerLeuCysAlaAspAsnIleGluGlyArgThr     100105110     PheValSerThrValAsnSerLeuValPheGlnGlnIleAspAlaAsn     115120125     TrpAsnIleGlnCysTrpLeuLysGlyAspLeuLysLeuPheIleCys     130135140     TyrValGluSerLeuPheLysAsnLeuPheArgAsnTyrAsnTyrLys     145150155160     ValHisLeuLeuTyrValLeuProGluValLeuGluAspSerProLeu     165170175     ValProGlnLysGlySerPheGlnMetValHisCysAsnCysSerVal     180185190     HisGluCysCysGluCysLeuValProValProThrAlaLysLeuAsn     195200205     AspThrLeuLeuMetCysLeuLysIleThrSerGlyGlyValIlePhe     210215220     ArgSerProLeuMetSerValGlnProIleAsnMetValLysProAsp     225230235240     ProProLeuGlyLeuHisMetGluIleThrAspAspGlyAsnLeuLys     245250255     IleSerTrpSerSerProProLeuValProPheProLeuGlnTyrGln     260265270     ValLysTyrSerGluAsnSerThrThrValIleArgGluAlaAspLys     275280285     IleValSerAlaThrSerLeuLeuValAspSerIleLeuProGlySer     290295300     SerTyrGluValGlnValArgGlyLysArgLeuAspGlyProGlyIle     305310315320     TrpSerAspTrpSerThrProArgValPheThrThrGlnAspValIle     325330335     TyrPheProProLysIleLeuThrSerValGlySerAsnValSerPhe     340345350     HisCysIleTyrLysLysGluAsnLysIleValProSerLysGluIle     355360365     ValTrpTrpMetAsnLeuAlaGluLysIleProGlnSerGlnTyrAsp     370375380     ValValSerAspHisValSerLysValThrPhePheAsnLeuAsnGlu     385390395400     ThrLysProArgGlyLysPheThrTyrAspAlaValTyrCysCysAsn     405410415     GluHisGluCysHisHisArgTyrAlaGluLeuTyrValIleAspVal     420425430     AsnIleAsnIleSerCysGluThrAspGlyTyrLeuThrLysMetThr     435440445     CysArgTrpSerThrSerThrIleGlnSerLeuAlaGluSerThrLeu     450455460     GlnLeuArgTyrHisArgSerSerLeuTyrCysSerAspIleProSer     465470475480     IleHisProIleSerGluProLysAspCysTyrLeuGlnSerAspGly     485490495     PheTyrGluCysIlePheGlnProIlePheLeuLeuSerGlyTyrThr     500505510     MetTrpIleArgIleAsnHisSerLeuGlySerLeuAspSerProPro     515520525     ThrCysValLeuProAspSerValValLysProLeuProProSerSer     530535540     ValLysAlaGluIleThrIleAsnIleGlyLeuLeuLysIleSerTrp     545550555560     GluLysProValPheProGluAsnAsnLeuGlnPheGlnIleArgTyr     565570575     GlyLeuSerGlyLysGluValGlnTrpLysMetTyrGluValTyrAsp     580585590     AlaLysSerLysSerValSerLeuProValProAspLeuCysAlaVal     595600605     TyrAlaTyrGlnValArgCysLysArgLeuAspGlyLeuGlyTyrTrp     610615620     SerAsnTrpSerAsnProAlaTyrThrValValMetAspIleLysVal     625630635640     ProMetArgGlyProGluPheTrpArgIleIleAsnGlyAspThrMet     645650655     LysLysGluLysAsnValThrLeuLeuTrpLysProLeuMetLysAsn     660665670     AspSerLeuCysSerValGlnArgTyrValIleAsnHisHisThrSer     675680685     CysAsnGlyThrTrpSerGluAspValGlyAsnHisThrLysPheThr     690695700     PheLeuTrpThrGluGlnAlaHisThrValThrValLeuAlaIleAsn     705710715720     SerIleGlyAlaSerValAlaAsnPheAsnLeuThrPheSerTrpPro     725730735     MetSerLysValAsnIleValGlnSerLeuSerAlaTyrProLeuAsn     740745750     SerSerCysValIleValSerTrpIleLeuSerProSerAspTyrLys     755760765     LeuMetTyrPheIleIleGluTrpLysAsnLeuAsnGluAspGlyGlu     770775780     IleLysTrpLeuArgIleSerSerSerValLysLysTyrTyrIleHis     785790795800     AspHisPheIleProIleGluLysTyrGlnPheSerLeuTyrProIle     805810815     PheMetGluGlyValGlyLysProLysIleIleAsnSerPheThrGln     820825830     AspAspIleGluLysHisGlnSerAspAlaGlyLeuTyrValIleVal     835840845     ProValIleIleSerSerSerIleLeuLeuLeuGlyThrLeuLeuIle     850855860     SerHisGlnArgMetLysLysLeuPheTrpGluAspValProAsnPro     865870875880     LysAsnCysSerTrpAlaGlnGlyLeuAsnPheGlnLysMetLeuGlu     885890895     GlySerMetPheValLysSerHisHisHisSerLeuIleSerSerThr     900905910     GlnGlyHisLysHisCysGlyArgProGlnGlyProLeuHisArgLys     915920925     ThrArgAspLeuCysSerLeuValTyrLeuLeuThrLeuProProLeu     930935940     LeuSerTyrAspProAlaLysSerProSerValArgAsnThrGlnGlu     945950955960     (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4:     (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     (A) LENGTH: 6 amino acids     (B) TYPE: amino acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: single     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4:     SerIleLysLysLysLys     15     __________________________________________________________________________ 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for detecting a nucleic acid encoding a leptin receptor variant in a cell, comprising:(a) contacting a nucleic acid molecule derived from the cell with a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of(i) nucleotides #2770 through #2991 of SEQ ID NO:1; (ii) the complement of the polynucleotide of (i); (iii) a portion of the polynucleotide of (i) that specifically hybridizes to a nucleic acid comprising the polynucleotide of (ii); and (iv) a portion of the polynucleotide of (ii) that specifically hybridizes to a nucleic acid comprising the polynucleotide of (i); and (b) detecting hybridization of the polynucleotide with the nucleic acid molecule.
 2. The method of claim 1 in which the polynucleotide comprises a nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:1 between #2770 and #2970 or a portion thereof, or its complementary sequence or a portion thereof.
 3. The method of claim 1 in which the nucleic acid molecule is ribonucleic acid.
 4. The method of claim 3 in which the ribonucleic acid is first extracted from the cell.
 5. The method of claim 1 in which the nucleic acid molecule is deoxyribonucleic acid.
 6. The method of claim 5 in which the deoxyribonucleic acid is first extracted from the cell.
 7. The method of claim 1 in which the hybridization is detected by an in situ hybridization method.
 8. The method of claim 1 in which the hybridization is detected by Northern blot analysis method.
 9. The method of claim 1 in which the polynucleotide of step (a) is used as a primer in an amplification reaction.
 10. The method of claim 9 in which the amplification reaction is the polymerase chain reaction.
 11. The method of claim 1 in which the cell is obtained from hypothalamus.
 12. The method of claim 1 in which the cell is obtained from choroid plexus.
 13. The method of claim 1 in which the cell is obtained from adipose tissue.
 14. The method of claim 1 in which the cell is obtained from lung.
 15. The method of claim 1 in which the cell is obtained from prostate.
 16. The method of claim 1 in which the cell is obtained from ovary.
 17. The method of claim 1 in which the cell is obtained from small intestine.
 18. The method of claim 1 in which the cell is obtained from bone marrow.
 19. The method of claim 1 in which the cell is obtained from peripheral blood. 